Method and system for on-board vehicle detection of harmful material

Abstract

An on-board terrorist threat detection and reporting system and method are provided for use on-board a transportation vehicle. The system includes a plurality of sensors for sensing a potential threat. The plurality of sensors are positioned on the transportation vehicle. The system also includes a database for storing threat related reference information, and a memory unit for storing sensor information corresponding to the potential threat sensed by one or more of the plurality of sensors. The system further includes a processor for analyzing the sensor information and corresponding threat related reference information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A threat detection and reporting system on-board a transportation vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of sensors for sensing a potential threat, wherein the plurality of sensors are positioned on the transportation vehicle; 
 a database for storing threat related reference information comprising at least geographic areas, through which the transportation vehicle may travel, that are known to contain materials known as potential threats or that are known to cause false-positives in identifying potential threats; 
 a memory unit for storing sensor information corresponding to the potential threat sensed by one or more of the plurality of sensors; and 
 a processor for analyzing the sensor information, corresponding threat related reference information, and a current location of the transportation vehicle to determine whether to generate a notification. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor information comprises one or more of a time and date when sensing of a potential threat begins, a time and date when sensing of the potential threat ends, identifiers of the one or more sensors sensing the potential threat, positions of the one or more sensors within the transportation vehicle, a material identified as the potential threat, a material emission level, a location of the material within the transportation vehicle, and a location of the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the threat related reference information comprises one or more of materials that are known as potential threats, material emission levels known to be harmful, geographic areas where the transportation vehicle is known not to be in service, and material emission levels appropriate for each geographic area. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor generates the notification based on the analyzed sensor information, corresponding threat related reference information, and the current location of the transportation vehicle, and provides notification information to at least one of a transportation vehicle operator and outside systems. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a locating unit for determining the location of the transportation vehicle utilizing an odometer and a Global Positioning System of the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a subset of the plurality of sensors are positioned near entrance and exit areas of the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor analyzes the sensor information by determining whether a material identified as the potential threat has been left in the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor analyzes the sensor information by determining whether a material identified as the potential threat has been brought onto or taken off the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor analyzes the sensor information by determining whether a material identified as the potential threat is being accumulated by sensing the material on the transportation vehicle a predetermined number of times over a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor analyzes the sensor information by further determining whether the accumulated material identified as the potential threat is being transported to a common location. 
     
     
       11. An on-board threat detection and reporting method in a transportation vehicle comprising the steps of:
 monitoring for a potential threat at a plurality of sensors positioned on the transportation vehicle; 
 storing threat related reference information in a database of the transportation vehicle, wherein the threat related reference information comprises at least geographic areas, through which the transportation vehicle may travel, that are known to contain materials known as potential threats or that are known to cause false-positives in identifying potential threats; 
 storing sensor information corresponding to the potential threat, when the potential threat is sensed by one or more of the plurality of sensors; and 
 analyzing the sensor information, and corresponding threat related reference information, and a current location of the transportation vehicle to determine whether to generate a notification at a processor in the transportation vehicle. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor information comprises one or more of a time and date when sensing of the potential threat begins, a time and date when sensing of the potential threat ends, identifiers of the one or more sensors sensing the potential threat, a position of the one or more sensors within the transportation vehicle, a material identified as the potential threat, a material emission level, a location of the material within the transportation vehicle, and a location of the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the threat related reference information comprises one or more materials that are known as potential threats, material emission levels known to be harmful, geographic areas where the transportation vehicle is known not to be in service, and material emission levels appropriate for each geographic area. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating the notification at the processor based on the analyzed sensor information, corresponding threat related reference information, and the current location of the transportation vehicle; and 
 providing notification information to at least one of a transportation vehicle operator and outside systems. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining the location of the transportation vehicle at a locating unit utilizing an odometer and a Global Positioning System of the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least a subset of the plurality of sensors are positioned near entrance and exit areas of the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein analyzing sensor information comprises determining whether a material identified as the potential threat has been left in the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein analyzing sensor information comprises determining whether a material identified as the potential threat has been brought on or taken off the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 , wherein analyzing the sensor information comprises determining whether a material identified as the potential threat is being accumulated by sensing the material a predetermined number of times over a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein analyzing the sensor information further comprises determining whether the accumulated material identified as the potential threat is being transported to a common location.